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Visitor Guidelines

Patient safety remains a priority, as patients may have a choice about
whether to go to the grocery store, church or gatherings, but they do not have a choice about receiving medical care.


Infection Prevention & Control staff and hospital leadership will continue to closely monitor for signs of increased spread of illness among patients and staff and will update these restrictions as needed to respond to an increase in respiratory illnesses within our hospitals and clinics as well as the community.  


Visitation Summary

Here are a few key points of our visitation policy, in place to keep our patients, staff and community safe to help reduce the spread of illness among patients and staff.  
Specific details for each facility are described further below.

  • In general, there are no limitations on the number of visitors during visitation hours, from 8 AM – 8 PM. It is limited to one or two visitors in the room at a time if space and the patient’s condition permit.
    • ​The Women's Hospital and Deaconess Henderson Hospital Women's Services have different guidelines, see below.
  • As a general rule, there are no limits on the number of visitors for outpatient patients although some departments may limit visitation to protect high-risk patients.
  • While most staff are no longer required to wear a mask, patients or visitors may ask them to put on a mask during interactions or while providing care. 
  • Masking is not required by patients unless they have respiratory symptoms.  
    • However, patients who are immunocompromised, at high risk for severe illness or in ICU will be asked to wear a mask when leaving their room or being transported. Visitors of these patients will be required to mask.  
  • Visitors are asked to not visit our hospitals if they feel ill or are experiencing respiratory symptoms.
  • Appropriate isolation guidelines will remain in place for all visitors of patients who have respiratory illnesses.
  • Employees, patients and visitors may choose to wear a mask in any setting at any time.
  • Children may visit on an inpatient unit during regular visiting hours when accompanied by an adult, unless respiratory illness restrictions are in place (such as flu, RSV or COVID.)
  • Visitors are required to self-screen when entering any Deaconess facility asking themselves the following questions:
    • Have you experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 48 hours? If so, you should not visit.
      • Fever or chills
      • New or unexplained onset of cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      • New or unexplained loss of taste or smell
      • New or unexplained muscle aches
  • Visitors exhibiting any symptoms of an acute illness not at the facility for treatment, may be asked by an employee to leave the facility.

Thank you for your support and cooperation as we work to keep Deaconess a safe place to both receive and provide care.


Deaconess Midtown, Gateway, Henderson, Gibson
and Union County Hospitals  

When Can I Visit

  • Visiting hours are from 8 AM – 8 PM daily.
  • Pediatric patients, and some patients who are cognitively impaired, may have visitors outside of these visiting hours.
  • COVID-19 patients are able to have visitors in certain circumstances. Please talk with the patient’s care team to learn about specific details.
How many people can visit?
  • One or two visitors may remain in the patient’s room if space and patient condition permit.
  • Staff may permit additional bedside visitors under special circumstances such as critical or declining conditions.
  • Visitors waiting to visit are expected to remain in the waiting area and not congregate in the hallways or outside patient rooms.
Exceptions include:
  • COVID-19 patients are able to have visitors in certain circumstances. Please talk with the patient’s care team to learn about specific details.
  • End-of-life and other special circumstances will warrant additional visitation. (See “Special Circumstances” below.)
  • Patients will be able to receive pastoral care visitors (clergy, chaplains, etc.) Pastoral care visitors will not count toward the patient’s two visitors that day. 
Outpatients in the hospital facilities

Where do I enter?
During visiting hours, visitors may enter only through the main entrances of the hospitals as well as at the Ortho Neuro Hospital entrance.  

During Your Visit
  • Visitors will not be required to wear a mask, however, in a few specific areas, masking may be recommended or required due to specific patient needs. 
Special Circumstances, Overnight & Emergency Department Visitors 
Special circumstances that may warrant additional visitors include: end-of life, critically ill/injured patient and/or deterioration of patient status. Special circumstances will be approved and reassessed daily by the patient’s care team/primary RN/ADCO.

End-of-Life
  • End-of-life visitors will report to the hospital entrances.
    • If end-of-life visitors must arrive outside visiting hours, they should enter via the Emergency Department.
  • For COVID-19 patients, a staff member from the unit will escort the visitor(s) to the unit to discuss PPE and visitor process and time limits.
Staying Overnight
  • Visitor(s) approved by the primary RN to stay overnight for special circumstances will be required to obtain a pass each night from security at 8 PM daily.
If you have questions about visitation at Deaconess facilities,
please call 
812-450-5000

The Women's Hospital, Deaconess Cross Pointe, Deaconess Clinic and other outpatient facilities  

The Women's Hospital Visitation
Effective September 23, 2024
  • Masking is not required by patients unless they have respiratory symptoms or confirmed respiratory viral illness.
  • Visitors are asked to not visit our hospitals if they feel ill or are experiencing respiratory symptoms (such as cough, sneezing, congestion), or may have a respiratory illness such as flu, RSV, COVID, etc.
  • Appropriate isolation guidelines may remain in place for all staff and patients who have respiratory illnesses.
  • Patients may request staff to wear a mask.  
  • Admitted patients, including those in obstetrics and gynecology surgery, may designate THREE visitors/support persons. 
    • These designated visitors/support persons must be 16 years old or older.
    • Designated visitors will remain the same throughout the patient’s stay, and wrist bands will be utilized to identify designated visitors. 
  • Open visitation is daily from 3 PM – 7 PM. Open visitation excludes NICU and laboring patients.  
  • Outpatient (including OB ED and Outpatient Surgery) & Office Appointments: TWO support persons.
  • NICU: Both parents may visit together. No other NICU visitors at this time.
  • Clergy may visit patients as appropriate. Clergy must check-in with security.  
NICU Visitation
Because the babies in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) need special care due to prematurity or other conditions, visitation guidelines in our NICU are different from other areas of The Women's Hospital.

In order to keep your baby and other NICU babies as safe as possible, the following guidelines have been implemented.

NICU Guidelines (Subject to change during Influenza and RSV seasons)
  • Mother and father/designated support person are considered part of the team providing care for baby. You are welcome in the unit at any time with the exception of 6:30 - 7:45 AM and 6:30-7:45 PM. The NICU may also be closed during emergencies or procedures.  
  • Only mother and father/designated support person are encouraged to assist in the care of baby. Other family members are not permitted to hold or feed baby.

Deaconess Henderson Hospital Women's Services     
  • Hospital patients, including obstetrical inpatients, gynecology surgical patients and OB-GYN emergency department patients may have two designated visitors/support persons. 
  • These designated visitors/support persons must be 16 years old or older.  
  • Designated visitors will remain the same throughout the patient’s stay, and wrist bands will be utilized to identify designated visitors.  
  • Siblings of newborns may visit daily during the hours of 4-6 PM with ONE additional adult.
  • Outpatient/Office Appointments: TWO support persons are allowed.
  • NICU: both parents may visit together.  Masking is required in the NICU. No other NICU visitors at this time.
  • Clergy may visit patients as appropriate.

Deaconess Cross Pointe
  • All visitors will self-screen for respiratory symptoms and exposure.
  • No visitation is allowed if an individual reports respiratory symptoms, is pending test results or is on quarantine due to recent exposure. This includes family members going to a family therapy session. 
  • Youth Unit
  • 2 visitors (parent/guardian) per patient per 24-hour period
  • Visitors will go back separately, each in 30 minute increments
  • Visiting hours:
    • Monday – Friday 6:15–7:15 PM
    • Saturday – Sunday 1-2 PM
  • Adult Units
  • 2 visitors per patient per 24-hour period
  • Visiting hours:
    • Monday – Friday – 7:30-8:30 PM
    • Saturday – Sunday 2:30-3:30 PM
  • Visitors who have questions about Deaconess Cross Pointe visitation should call 812-476-7200 prior to entering.
  • Anyone reporting respiratory symptoms and seeking a CARE Team assessment will be directed to complete a phone or virtual assessment.
  • CARE Team will coordinate with the Emergency Department to care for a patient with an acute mental health issue and symptoms of COVID-19.​​

Outpatient Facility Guidelines

Masking is not required by staff, patients or visitors in most areas. 

However, masking should continue in specific care sites:

  • Procedural areas (such as endoscopy, interventional radiology, cath lab, pain management, etc.) when providing direct patient care

Patients with respiratory symptoms are required to wear a mask and will be provided a mask and placed in an appropriate setting.
If you have questions about visitation at Deaconess facilities,
please call 
812-450-5000

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